The Best Mac N’ Cheese in Denver Discovered

Carb-loading and calling it “research” aligns with both my personal and my professional journalistic goals.

To indulge in my cheesy fancy, I embarked on a quest to discover the best macaroni and cheese in Denver. I made a pilgrimage to four of Denver’s favorite restaurants to collect my data and test their claims of greatness: Black Pearl, Steuben’s, nine75, and Dazzle Restaurant and Lounge.

Black Pearl : 1529 South Pearl Street, Denver, CO 80210 : 303-777-0500

I started my quest with Black Pearl, located on Denver’s Pearl Street. The macaroni and cheese dish served by Black Pearl is a mascarpone, mushroom sensation. For $8, patrons can experience a bowl of upscale mac and cheese created by a fusion of smoked jack, aged Gouda and mascarpone cheeses mixed with shiitake, Portobello, lion’s mane and oyster mushrooms.

The dish is served in a modest-sized bowl, but the creamy mushroom sauce covering the large shell noodles was more than enough to satisfy my craving. Black Pearl’s presentation and quality were both excellent, but it certainly didn’t resemble the mac and cheese I am accustomed to consuming (by the box). 

Steuben’s : 523 East 17th Avenue, Denver, CO 80203 : 303-830-1001

For a more traditional version of mac and cheese, I visited Steuben’s on 17th Street. The restaurant’s diner atmosphere is relaxing and family-friendly. The $8 mac and cheese was similarly unpretentious.

With a light layer of breadcrumbs sprinkled atop a mound of gooey, cheesy goodness, I was impressed. The meal was topped off with a spectacular Steuben’s cupcake. I left the restaurant happy, but my pants felt a tad bit tighter after dinner than before my carb-fest. 

nine75 : 975 Lincoln Street, Denver, CO 80203 : 303-975-0975 

I then refocused my quest for the best cheesy pasta delight in town to nine75 on Lincoln Street. Nine75’s hip atmosphere and mainstream menu were the perfect place to find a large bowl of elbow noodles coated by thick, stringy layers of cheddar, swiss, Gouda, and fortina cheeses.

Topped with the restaurant’s signature spicy breadcrumbs, the $6 dish satisfies the most intense of mac and cheese cravings. 

Dazzle : 930 Lincoln Street, Denver, CO 80203 : 303-839-5100

Just across the street from nine75 is a jazz music enthusiast’s (and mac and cheese conneuisuer’s) heaven— Dazzle Restaurant and Lounge.

The venue was hosting their First Monday Art Talk, featuring famed street sign artist Dunn. A Denver native, Dunn creates distinctive works of art from old street signs. Many of his creations lined the walls of the restaurant for patrons to view, while a DJ kept the tunes rolling for a local breakdancing group, Lords of Finesse. I grabbed a seat with a view of the spinning action, and ordered the Ragonetti Macaroni & Four Cheeses, with Gouda, fontina, smoked cheddar and parmesan for $14.

When the meal arrived, I recognized that I would not need another course, and I definitely wasn’t going to be interested in dessert.

I began making a dent in the enormous dish as I listened to the speaker review the four pillars of hip hop for the crowd: a DJ, an MC, breakdancing, and graffiti. As the DJ fulfilled his spinning duties and the breakdancers entertained guests with remarkable athleticism and a killer robot dance, I was quite content with my ridiculously large portion of hearty mac and cheese.

Dazzle’s interpretation of quality aligned perfectly with my pallet. With extra large elbow macaroni, fresh tomatoes, basil, and a thick crust of breadcrumbs spread across the top of the bowl, I knew I had found the best mac and cheese in Denver.

With an excellent combination of both cheesy and creamy textures, the gouda-flavored dish seemed to transport me into the kitchen of a grandma who knows what she’s doing.

If you are hunting for a hearty macaroni and cheese experience in a lively atmosphere, then search no further than Dazzle Restaurant and Lounge in Denver.  

(Ed. Note: Dazzle is, like, the greatest place ever.)

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